Who we are

Brief of CISS

Today the world has its own "south": entire countries doomed to be only a source of raw materials and cheap labour force, conflicts locations dictated by the hunt for resources, but also the suburbs of the rich world where relegate those excluded from work , those who have become weak from lack of social services, the different, the disabled, the misfits. International Cooperation South South (CISS thereinafter) works in these "southern".

CISS is a non-profit organization founded in 1985. Since 1989 it has received official recognition by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) apt to promote and implement development and cooperation projects with developing countries (Decree NO. 1989-128-3638-0 of 6 December 1989). It has been operating in Egypt since 1998. Read more about CISS Egypt. 

Vision and mission

Assumption of CISS’ action is the conviction that underdevelopment in Italy and in South Countries have common roots. CISS envisages a development that starts from the centrality of people and their interrelations, from a "valorisation" of resources that is not driven by profit, but by the necessity to satisfy human community needs adopting principles of sustainability in order to guarantee the rights of future generations, other living species and environment. "Development" is not a term with a single meaning. Acting for "development" means ensuring satisfaction of basic needs in some places, guaranteeing citizenship participation in others, rethinking lifestyles to avoid exploitative situations or compromising survival of our planet in other places yet. Common characteristic in each action for development is seeking the dignity of people and cooperating. 

Cooperation is building bridges between social realities, individuals and territories; it means support, solidarity, collaboration, knowledge, dialogue and peace; it is questioning exploitation, changing oppressive relations, acting for the re-appropriation of local resources and one's own life; it is focusing on participation as a practice of democracy and active citizenship, and on listening as a basis for education and communication; it means fostering social inclusion and empowerment, namely achieving collective improvement of one's capability of managing one’s own life, material resources, social context (relations) and perspectives (goals).

CISS contributes to the development of the most socially excluded population and the empowerment of local groups and societies, being inspired and guided by the principle of “empowerment” and by values of solidarity, protection and real support. Read more about CISS.

What we do and where 

CISS projects deal with some of the crucial issues related to development: sustainable use of resources; fight to social and urban marginalization, preservation of cultural and environmental goods and support to migrants. Since its foundation, CISS has already carried out or has been implementing more than 50 multi-annual projects (generally lasting three years) and more than 250 shorter ones (six months/a year) in the field of international development cooperation, involving 2 million of beneficiaries. 

CISS implemented and has been implementing solidarity and international cooperation projects in South America (Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela), Central America (Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua), Africa (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia), the Balkans (FYROM Macedonia), the Middle East (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Occupied Palestinian Territory) and South-East Asia (Sri Lanka). 

CISS actions are implemented by providing direct economical support, by offering the necessary concrete and technical tools and by sending volunteers and expatriated staff. In addition to financing directly the projects, CISS has cooperated and exchanged ideas with different local bodies and with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which is specialized in managing human development projects. 

In addition to international cooperation projects, CISS implements local development initiatives in Italy in favour of marginalized sectors of the population and activities aimed at raising public opinion's and students' awareness on development themes. 

The Association has in its own premises a specialized Documentation Centre with some 4,500 titles (books and audiovisual material) where it is possible to find information about Developing Countries' historic, geographical, political and economic reality. It also produces its own videos, publications and didactic units and proposes knowledge and solidarity trips compatible with local culture, environment and economy, and enriched by an exchange with local populations and visits to cooperation projects on the field.